Mayor hopes new system will reduce driver frustration at meters

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No more fishing for quarters to keep the parking tickets away -- you can now use your cell phone to plug the meter at all of D.C.’s 17,000 parking meters.

Mayor Vincent Gray announced Thursday that the pay-by-phone system has been expanded citywide. The pilot program launched in April included just three locations.

The program first requires a credit card registration with Parkmobile.com. Then, when you’re at a parking meter, you can pay by app, the web or a free phone call. You can also choose to have pay-by-phone alert you by text message when your meter is about to expire.

“We believe the pay-by-phone offers up the best customer service we can bring to our people at this stage based on technology,” Mayor Gray said.

In addition to paying for the meter fee, using the pay-by-phone will cost you $0.32 per transaction.

Mayor Gray said all of the new “smart meters” will be able to let the government know when they need to be fixed. The goal is lower frustration of drivers.

“It’s one of the smartest investments we could have made and will certainly improve the experience of parking in the District of Columbia.”

For those who don’t want to use pay-by-phone, the meters will still take coins.